US coronavirus testing set to expand this week, Pence says

Vice President Mike Pence announced on Sunday that more than 2,000 labs across the country will begin processing coronavirus tests this week.

Pence revealed the national testing expansion at a Sunday afternoon White House press briefing.

The vice president said the new testing capability came to fruition after President Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency.

Since then, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal public health services have “reached out to all 50 states to create a process that will enable all Americans who need to be tested to go to a community-based testing site outside of usual health facilities,” Pence said.

US Assistant Health Secretary Brett Giroir, who was also present at Sunday’s briefing, said the US will have 1.9 million testing kits available this week under the new plan.

“That is a real game changer for us,” Giroir said of the increased number of testing labs.

Priority will be given to elderly people over 65 with underlying health conditions, and first responders, officials said Sunday.

With Post wires 

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